May is Military Appreciation Month, and the United States Postal Inspection Service® (USPIS®) wants to get the word out about how scammers are targeting veterans. Through the Operation Protect Veterans crime prevention program, USPIS is working hard to ensure that veterans and their families know what to do if they encounter any scams like these:
n Veterans Administration (VA) loan scam. Fake offers to refinance VA loans at extremely low rates.
n “Update your file” scam. An imposter, claiming to be from a government agency, attempts to get a veteran‘s personal information to "update their file" so they can maintain their benefits.
n Secret veteran benefits scam. Veterans are told they qualify for "secret" government programs or benefits that offer thousands of dollars — but first, scammers try to collect personal information or a fee.
n Pension poaching scam. Scammers offer veterans lump sum payments upfront, in exchange for signing over all their future monthly benefit checks.
n Aid and attendance scam. Veterans (or their family members) receive a fake offer to move their assets into a living trust so that they can qualify financially for assisted-Iiving benefits.
n Romance scam. Veterans and active-duty service members are tempting targets for “catfishing” romance scams, where scammers use the picture of a service member posted online and create fake dating profiles. The objective is to lure unsuspecting singles into giving up personally-identifiable information or money.
According to an American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) survey, veterans are twice as likely as members of the general public to be victims of scams. That’s why Operation Protect Veterans is urging everyone to get informed about scams targeting veterans. What can veterans do to protect themselves?
n Don’t give any personal information over the phone to someone who contacts you. This includes bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and your Social Security number.
n Don’t be pressured into immediate action.
n Double-check references and verify that businesses and others who contact you are who they claim to be before you provide any personal information.
n Contact your telephone service provider and ask what kind of services they offer to block unwanted calls.
If you or a veteran you know believe you have been an unwitting participant in a scam, protect other veterans by reporting it:
n Contact your local police station.
n Call AARP at 877-908-3360 or send an email to protectveterans@aarp.
n Call USPIS at 877-876-2455 or file a report at uspis.gov/report.
— Communications, Governance, and Strategy,
U.S. Postal Inspection Service, 5-20-21
